Columbus State’s golf and tennis teams to add new facilities
CSU athletics to increase its presence off campus with two new expansion projects
Columbus State University athletics received an upgrade late last month when the Columbus City Council approved the building of new facilities for the golf and tennis teams. “We were thankful,” said Jay Sparks, athletic director at CSU. “Our proposals were batted around back and forth three or four times for four years before one was finally approved. The new tennis facility will cost $5 million. It is funded privately thanks to a partnership with The Columbus Regional Tennis Association, or CORTA, and private funds from the city. Sparks reassured that the students will not have to pay for the project. “This will never cost the students anything,” saysid Sparks. “It is funded privately and it will not come out of their athletic fees.” The tennis facility will be located at Cooper Creek Park and will consist of 10 soft courts and 12 hard courts, two more hard courts than the current facilities at CSU. Previously, Columbus State could not hold national tournaments, only small ones. “In order to host national tournaments you need to have 12 hard courts,” said Sparks. “The national tournaments will help the school to bring in money. Those tournaments are huge.” The golf facility will be built on 11 acres of land down the street from the main campus. This will be much closer than the Bull Creek Golf Facilities that CSU currently uses. The project will cost close to $2 million dollars, which is also funded privately. It will consist of a long and narrow driving range, a place for players to practice their short game, and a putting area. The clubhouse and office area will be located in the old chiropractor offices. CSU had to get a certain amount of votes for the approval to use the land for a new golf facility instead of more housing, which was the original plan. The man that persuaded the community to approve was longtime CSU supporter and golf advocate Billy Keith. “Billy Keith had a big part in all of this,” says Sparks. “He has a passion for CSU and the game of
The Saber | Columbus State Univesity
Sports
Sept 11, 2013 |
13
Contributing Writer
Photo: Jay Armstead
Jake Hall
golf and without him it would not have been